Imaging control device and computer program

Abstract

To provide an imaging control device that can prevent wrong playback of voice performed by a third party when, for example, setting voice input to be invalid.SOLUTION: An imaging control device has: distribution setting information storage means that stores video distribution setting information on the distribution of video with the addition of voice setting information; voice input setting means that sets whether voice input is made valid or invalid during the distribution of the video; deletion means that, when the voice input is made invalid by the voice input setting means, deletes the voice setting information from the video distribution setting information stored by the distribution setting information storage means; storage means that, when the voice setting information is deleted from the video distribution setting information by the deletion means, stores the video distribution setting information and the voice setting information in linkage while linking them to each other; and addition means that, when the voice input is made valid by the voice input setting means, adds the voice setting information stored in the storage means to the video distribution setting information.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an imaging control device and a computer program that allow voice input. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, surveillance cameras and the like with audio distribution functions acquire current audio settings in response to user instructions, and then set audio settings such as the audio encoding type, sampling rate, and bit rate, and receive or distribute audio based on the audio settings. On the other hand, there are use cases in which it is desirable to disable audio distribution for surveillance cameras, such as for privacy reasons or to temporarily suspend surveillance. For this reason, a function is provided to disable the audio input from the microphone itself and disable audio distribution.

[0003] Furthermore, in a surveillance camera that distributes captured video to a client device, commands are provided to instruct an external device to acquire or set the audio settings of the surveillance camera, and to add or delete audio settings from the distribution settings. Also provided are commands to instruct audio distribution based on the content of the audio settings included in the distribution settings. Known examples of such commands are those defined by the standard established by ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum) (Non-Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] ONVIF Specification(http: / / www.o vnif.org / specs / DocMap.html) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the ONVIF standard does not include a command to link audio input enable / disable with video. Therefore, even if an administrator enables or disables audio input, a third party cannot know this, which can lead to problems such as audio being recorded in scenes where audio should be silent. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging control device that can prevent erroneous audio playback by a third party when, for example, audio input is disabled. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the imaging control device of the present invention a distribution setting information storage means for adding audio setting information to video distribution setting information relating to video distribution and storing the information; When distributing the video of Voice input but Disable was a deletion means for deleting the audio setting information from the video distribution setting information stored by the distribution setting information storage means in the case where the audio setting information is not available; When the audio setting information is deleted from the video distribution setting information by the deletion means, the video distribution setting information and the audio setting information and of Associate a storage means for storing the before Voice input but Enable And When the voice setting information stored in the storage means is , the audio setting information is associated an adding unit for adding to the video distribution setting information, [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, for example, when voice input is disabled, it is possible to prevent a third party from erroneously playing back voice. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a system including a surveillance camera 1000 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2A is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a surveillance camera 1000, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a client device 2000 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating audio settings of the surveillance camera 1000 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an audio distribution setting of the monitoring camera 1000 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a diagram illustrating a sequence in which the monitoring camera 1000 according to the first embodiment sends to the client device 2000 an audio setting acquisition / setting command, a distribution setting command, and an audio distribution request command. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a sequence of voice input setting and voice setting acquisition of the client devices 2000a and 2000b according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 7 is a flowchart for explaining the audio setting deletion process in step S63 of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an audio setting addition table in step S1004 of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the audio setting addition process in step S68 of FIG. 6. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart of an audio setting addition process of the monitoring camera 1000 according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] 11 is a flowchart of an audio setting addition process of the monitoring camera 1000 according to the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each drawing, the same members or elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted or simplified. In the embodiments, an example of an imaging control device that controls a network camera will be described as an imaging device. However, imaging devices also include electronic devices with imaging functions, such as digital still cameras, digital movie cameras, smartphones with cameras, tablet computers with cameras, in-vehicle cameras, drone cameras, and cameras mounted on robots.

[0010] Example 1 The network configuration according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram including a surveillance camera 1000 as an imaging device according to the first embodiment. Reference numeral 2000 denotes a client device as an imaging control device. The imaging control device of this embodiment may be built into the surveillance camera as an imaging device. The surveillance camera 1000 and the client device 2000 are connected via a network 3000 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0011] The client device 2000 can transmit control commands such as an audio input setting command in the ONVIF standard, a command to obtain or set audio settings, and a command to add or delete audio settings to distribution settings to the surveillance camera 1000. It can also transmit control commands such as a command to request audio distribution by specifying distribution settings. The surveillance camera 1000 operates in accordance with the commands in the ONVIF standard and transmits responses to the commands to the client device 2000.

[0012] FIG. 2A is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the surveillance camera 1000. As shown in FIG. 2A, reference numeral 1001 denotes a control unit that performs overall control of the surveillance camera 1000. The control unit 1001 includes, for example, a CPU as a computer. Reference numeral 1002 denotes a storage unit serving as a storage medium. The storage unit 1002 is mainly used as a storage area for computer programs executed by the CPU of the control unit 1001 and as a work area during program execution. It is also used as a storage area for various data, such as a storage area for setting values ​​such as audio input settings, audio settings, distribution settings, and audio settings stored when audio input is disabled, and a storage area for image data generated by the imaging unit 1003 (described later).

[0013] Reference numeral 1003 denotes an imaging unit. The imaging unit 1003 includes a CCD image sensor, a CMOS image sensor, or the like, and captures an image of a subject formed by the imaging optical system of the surveillance camera 1000 to obtain an analog signal. The imaging unit 1003 also converts the analog signal into digital data and outputs it to the storage unit 1002 as a captured image. When the captured image is output, the control unit 1001 receives an image acquisition event from the imaging unit 1003.

[0014] A compression encoding unit 1004 performs compression encoding processing on the captured image output by the imaging unit 1003 based on a format such as JPEG, H.264, or H.265 to generate image data and output the image data to the storage unit 1002 .

[0015] A communication unit 1005 is used to receive each control command from an external device and to transmit a response to each control command or video to the external device. When a command is received from an external device, the control unit 1001 receives a command reception event from the communication unit 1005.

[0016] An imaging control unit 1006 is used to change the imaging range of the imaging unit 1003 to tilt drive, pan drive, or zoom drive in accordance with the pan, tilt, or zoom value input by the control unit 1001.

[0017] 2B is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the client device 2000 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 2B, reference numeral 2001 denotes a control unit. The control unit 2001 includes, for example, a CPU as a computer, and performs overall control of the client device 2000. 2002 is a storage unit as a storage medium, which is mainly used as a storage area for the computer programs executed by the control unit 2001 and a storage area for various data in the work area during program execution.

[0018] A display unit 2003 is configured with, for example, an LCD, an organic EL display, or the like, and displays to the user of the client device 2000 a viewer screen that displays the video received from the surveillance camera 1000, various setting screens, various messages, and the like.

[0019] An input unit 2004 is configured with, for example, buttons, a cross key, a touch panel, a mouse, etc., and notifies the control unit 2001 of the content of screen operations performed by the user. A decoding unit 2005 decodes compressed and encoded image data received via a communication unit 2006 based on a format such as JPEG, H.264, or H.265, and stores the decoded data in a storage unit 2002.

[0020] Reference numeral 2006 denotes a communication unit. The communication unit 2006 transmits various control commands to the surveillance camera 1000, such as an audio input setting command, a command to acquire or set audio settings, a command to add or delete audio settings to distribution settings, and a command to request audio distribution by specifying distribution settings. The communication unit 2006 also receives responses to the various control commands and video from the surveillance camera 1000.

[0021] The internal configurations of the surveillance camera 1000 and the client device 2000 have been described above with reference to Fig. 2, but the processing blocks shown in Fig. 2 are merely an example of a preferred embodiment of the surveillance camera and client device in this embodiment, and are not limited to this. Various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of this embodiment, such as providing an audio output unit.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating audio settings of the monitoring camera 1000 according to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the audio settings include two types of settings: an audio source configuration 4000 and an audio encoder configuration 4010 in the ONVIF standard. There is at least one audio source setting 4000. Each audio source setting 4000 holds a token 4001 for identifying the audio source setting 4000 and a source token 4002 for identifying the audio source used in the audio source setting 4000, linked together as parameters.

[0023] There is also at least one audio encoding setting 4010. Each audio encoding setting 4010 has parameters such as a token 4011 for identifying the audio encoding setting 4010, and an encoding type 4012, which is the audio encoding parameter to be used. It also has parameters such as a bit rate 4013 and a sample rate 4014. It should be noted that the types and parameters of the audio settings in the first embodiment are not limited to the example shown in Fig. 3. In this embodiment, it is sufficient that there are at least one type and one parameter of each audio setting.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the audio distribution settings of the monitoring camera 1000 according to the first embodiment. A profile 5000 as video distribution setting information related to video distribution in the ONVIF standard can hold, as a parameter, a token 5001 for identifying each profile 5000. Also, an audio source configuration token 5004 used in each profile 5000 can be held as a parameter. Here, the audio source configuration token 5004 is a token as audio setting information related to audio settings in the ONVIF standard.

[0025] In addition, an audio encoder configuration token 5005 in the ONVIF standard as audio setting information can also be added as a parameter and saved. That is, the audio setting information includes an audio source setting token or an audio encoder setting token in the ONVIF standard.

[0026] In addition to audio distribution settings, profile 5000 can also configure distribution settings such as video distribution and metadata distribution. That is, video source settings can be configured by adding parameters such as a video source configuration token (Video Source Configuration Token) 5002. Also, video encoding settings can be configured by adding parameters such as a video encoding configuration token (Video Encoder Configuration Token) 5003.

[0027] The user can change the distribution settings by adding or deleting various configuration tokens for video and audio to the profile 5000.

[0028] 4 are temporarily stored in the storage unit 1002 of the surveillance camera 1000 in association with (linked to) each profile 5000. Here, the storage unit 1002 functions as a distribution setting information storage means that adds and stores an audio source setting token 5004 and an audio encoding setting token 5005 as audio setting information to the profile 5000 as video distribution setting information related to video distribution. It should be noted that the distribution setting parameters in the first embodiment are not limited to those shown in FIG. 4, as long as there is at least one.

[0029] 5 is a diagram illustrating a sequence in which the surveillance camera 1000 according to the first embodiment sends an audio setting acquisition / setting command, a distribution setting command, and an audio distribution request command to the client device 2000. Note that the CPUs in the respective control units of the surveillance camera 1000 and the client device 2000 execute computer programs stored in memory, thereby performing the operation of each step in the sequence of FIG.

[0030] In order to acquire the audio settings held by the surveillance camera 1000 from the communication unit 2006, the control unit 2001 of the client device 2000 transmits an audio setting acquisition command in step S50. The surveillance camera 1000 receives the command at the communication unit 1005, and in step S51, the control unit 1001 acquires, for example, audio setting 1 and audio setting 2 from the storage unit 1002. The communication unit 1005 then transmits audio setting 1 and audio setting 2, and the client device 2000 receives the audio settings 1 and 2 at the communication unit 2006.

[0031] In step S52, the control unit 2001 of the client device 2000 rewrites and changes the audio setting 1 by having the user add a new audio setting 1 via the input unit 2004. To do this, a token that uniquely specifies the audio setting and an audio setting command that specifies the audio setting are transmitted via the communication unit 2006. The surveillance camera 1000 receives the token and command via the communication unit 1005, and the control unit 1001 changes the audio setting 1 in the memory unit 1002. When the change is complete, the monitoring camera 1000 transmits the result of the command to the client device 2000 via the communication unit 1005 in step S53, and the client device 2000 receives the result of the command via the communication unit 2006.

[0032] In step S54, the client device 2000 transmits a distribution setting acquisition command from the communication unit 2006 to acquire the distribution settings held by the monitoring camera 1000, and the communication unit 1005 of the monitoring camera 1000 receives the command. In step S55, the control unit 1001 acquires distribution settings from the storage unit 1002 and transmits, for example, distribution settings 1 and 2 from the communication unit 1005. The client device 2000 receives the distribution settings at the communication unit 2006.

[0033] In step S56, the client device 2000 transmits, for example, a token specifying distribution setting 1 and a distribution setting command specifying the token of audio setting 1 set in step S52, in order to perform audio distribution settings with audio setting 1 specified by the user. The surveillance camera 1000 receives the distribution setting command at the communication unit 1005. Here, step S56 functions as a distribution setting information saving step that adds audio setting information to video distribution setting information related to video distribution and saves the information.

[0034] In step S57, the control unit 1001 adds the specified audio setting 1 to the distribution setting 1 in the memory unit 1002 and sends a completion notification via the communication unit 1005, and the client device 2000 receives the above command result via the communication unit 2006. In step S58, the client device 2000 sends an audio distribution request command specifying the token of the distribution setting 1 set above to request audio distribution, and the surveillance camera 1000 receives the command via the communication unit 1005.

[0035] In step S59, the communication unit 1005 transmits a notification of completion of the settings based on the command, and the communication unit 2006 of the client device 2000 receives the command result. In step S60, the control unit 1001 of the surveillance camera 1000 starts audio distribution according to the specified distribution settings. In the above description, the command protocol may be ONVIF or a control protocol unique to the surveillance camera, and is not limited to the protocol shown in FIG.

[0036] Fig. 6 is a diagram for explaining a sequence of setting audio input and acquiring audio settings of the client devices 2000a and 2000b according to Example 1. Note that the CPUs in the control units of the surveillance camera 1000 and the client devices 2000a and 2000b execute computer programs stored in their memories to perform the operations of the steps in the sequence of Fig. 6.

[0037] Here, it is assumed that client device 2000a and client device 2000b each have the configuration shown in Fig. 2(B). Also, it is assumed that client device 2000a is a client device for which audio input setting is possible, and client device 2000b is a client device for which audio input setting is not possible. Here, input unit 2004 of client device 2000a functions as an audio input setting means for setting whether audio input is enabled or disabled when video is distributed.

[0038] In step S61, client device 2000a capable of setting audio input transmits, for example, an audio input setting command to disable audio input via communication unit 2006, and surveillance camera 1000 receives the command via communication unit 1005. Here, step S61 functions as an audio input setting step, and disables audio input when distributing video.

[0039] In step S62, the control unit 1001 of the surveillance camera 1000 transmits a notification of completion of the invalidation setting from the communication unit 1005, and in step S63 performs an audio setting deletion process to invalidate the audio input setting in the storage unit 1002. The client device 2000a receives the notification of completion of the invalidation setting at the communication unit 2006. Here, step S63 functions as a deletion means (deletion step) that deletes the audio setting information from the video distribution setting information stored by the distribution setting information storage means when the audio input is invalidated by the audio input setting means (audio input setting step). The audio setting deletion process in step S63 will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0040] In step S64, it is assumed that client device 2000b, which cannot set audio input, transmits an audio setting acquisition command to surveillance camera 1000 via communication unit 2006 in order to acquire the audio settings held by surveillance camera 1000. In this case, surveillance camera 1000 receives the audio setting acquisition command via communication unit 1005.

[0041] In step S65, the control unit 1001 of the surveillance camera 1000 acquires the audio input setting from the memory unit 1002. At this time, since the audio input setting was disabled in step S63, a response indicating that there is no audio setting is transmitted from the communication unit 1005 in response to the audio setting acquisition command, and the client device 2000b receives the response indicating that there is no audio setting via the communication unit 2006.

[0042] In step S66, the client device 2000a transmits an audio input setting command to enable audio input, for example, to enable audio input, and the surveillance camera 1000 receives the audio input setting command via the communication unit 1005. Here, step S66 functions as an audio input setting step that enables audio input when video is distributed.

[0043] In response to the command, the control unit 1001 of the surveillance camera 1000 transmits a setting completion notification from the communication unit 1005 in step S67 indicating that the audio input setting in the storage unit 1002 has been enabled, and also performs an audio setting addition process in step S68. The client device 2000a receives the setting completion notification at the communication unit 2006. The audio setting addition process in step S68 will be described later with reference to FIG. 9.

[0044] Next, in step S69, for example, client device 2000b transmits an audio setting acquisition command to acquire the audio settings held by surveillance camera 1000, and surveillance camera 1000 receives the command via communication unit 1005.

[0045] Then, in step S70, the control unit 1001 of the surveillance camera 1000 acquires the audio input settings from the storage unit 1002. Since the audio input is set to enabled, for example, audio settings 1 and 2 are transmitted from the communication unit 1005 in response to the audio setting acquisition command, and the client device 2000b can receive the audio settings 1 and 2 via the communication unit 2006. The protocol of each command in the above operations is not limited to the protocol in Fig. 6. The command protocol may be the ONVIF standard or a control protocol unique to the surveillance camera.

[0046] Fig. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the audio setting deletion process of step S63 in Fig. 6. The operation of each step in the flowchart in Fig. 7 is performed by the CPU in the control unit of the surveillance camera 1000 executing a computer program stored in memory. 7, the audio setting deletion process is started and n is set to 1. Next, in step S1001, the control unit 1001 of the surveillance camera 1000 acquires information on the n-th distribution setting token from the storage unit 1002, and the process proceeds to step S1002.

[0047] In step S1002, the control unit 1001 of the surveillance camera 1000 checks whether an audio source configuration token (Audio Source Configuration Token) and an audio encoder configuration token (Audio Encoder Configuration Token) have been added to the distribution setting token, as shown in Fig. 4. If they have been added, the process proceeds to step S1003, and if they have not been added, the process proceeds to step S1005.

[0048] In step S1003, the control unit 1001 of the surveillance camera 1000 deletes the audio setting token as audio setting information from the profile 5000 as video distribution setting information temporarily stored in the memory unit 1002 as distribution setting information storage means. That is, the audio setting information is deleted from the video distribution setting information stored by the distribution setting information storage means, and the process proceeds to step S1004.

[0049] In step S1004, the control unit 1001 of the surveillance camera 1000 associates (corresponds) the distribution setting token with the audio setting token deleted in step S1003 and stores them in the backup audio setting addition table 6000 in the storage unit 1002. Note that step S1004 (storage step) functions as storage means for storing the distribution setting token as video distribution setting information and the audio setting token as audio setting information in association with each other when audio setting information is deleted from the video distribution setting information by the deletion means. After processing step S1004, proceed to step S2005.

[0050] In step S1005, n is incremented by 1, and in step S1006, it is determined whether n is the same as the number of distribution settings. If No, the processes in steps S1001 to S1005 are repeated. If the answer is YES in step S1006, the process proceeds to step S1007, and the flow of FIG. 7 ends.

[0051] As described above, in this embodiment, when audio input of the surveillance camera 1000 is switched from enabled to disabled, the audio setting token for that distribution setting token is temporarily deleted from the profile. However, at this time, the deleted audio setting token is associated with the distribution setting token and saved as a backup audio setting addition table 6000.

[0052] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the audio setting addition table in step S1004 of FIG. The audio setting addition table 6000 is a table in which a delivery setting token that uniquely identifies a delivery setting is associated with an audio setting token that uniquely identifies the audio setting.

[0053] As described above, when audio input of the surveillance camera 1000 is switched from enabled to disabled, the audio setting token for that distribution setting token is temporarily deleted. However, the deleted audio setting token is associated with the distribution setting token and saved as a backup audio setting addition table 6000. Then, the next time audio input is switched from disabled to enabled, the audio setting token saved in association with the distribution setting token is read out and restored for use.

[0054] Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating the audio setting addition process in step S68 in Fig. 6. Note that the operation of each step in the flowchart in Fig. 9 is performed by the CPU in the control unit of the surveillance camera 1000 executing a computer program stored in memory. The audio setting addition process in FIG. 9 is a process for reading and using an audio setting token stored in the backup audio setting addition table 6000 in association with a distribution setting token, if any.

[0055] 9, the audio setting addition process is started and n is set to 1. Next, in step S2001, the control unit 1001 of the surveillance camera 1000 checks whether an audio setting token has been added to the n-th distribution setting token of the profile 5000. If an audio setting token has been added, the process proceeds to step S2005; if not, the process transitions to step S2002.

[0056] In step S2002, the control unit 1001 of the monitoring camera 1000 acquires an audio setting token corresponding to the distribution setting token from the audio setting addition table 6000 in the storage unit 1002, and the process proceeds to step S2003. In step S2003, the control unit 1001 of the surveillance camera 1000 checks whether there is an audio setting token that was stored as a backup at the time of the previous deletion, corresponding to the distribution setting token. If there is an audio setting token, the process proceeds to step S2004; if not, the process proceeds to step S2005.

[0057] In step S2004 (addition step), the control unit 1001 adds the audio setting token stored in the backup audio setting addition table 6000 corresponding to the distribution setting token to the profile 5000, and proceeds to step S2005. Here, step S2004 functions as an addition means for adding the audio setting information (audio setting token) stored in the audio setting addition table 6000 as a storage means to the video distribution setting information (profile 5000) when audio input is enabled.

[0058] In step S2005, n is incremented by 1, and in step S2006, it is determined whether n is the same as the number of distribution settings. If No, the processes in steps S2001 to S2005 are repeated. If the answer is YES in step S2006, the process proceeds to step S2007, and the flow of FIG. 9 ends.

[0059] As described above, in the first embodiment, the surveillance camera 1000 deletes or adds audio settings to the distribution setting token when switching audio inputs. Also, by determining whether or not to acquire audio settings based on the audio input settings, it is possible to prevent, for example, other client devices from displaying an incorrect audio distribution status. Furthermore, since the audio settings that were once deleted are backed up, the audio settings can be easily restored when audio input is changed from disabled to enabled.

[0060] <Example 2> Fig. 10 is a flowchart of an audio setting addition process of the surveillance camera 1000 according to the second embodiment. Note that the operation of each step in the flowchart of Fig. 10 is performed by the CPU in the control unit of the surveillance camera 1000 executing a computer program stored in memory. Note that in the second embodiment, if there is no corresponding audio setting token in the audio setting addition table 6000, a default setting is applied, and steps with the same numbers as those in Fig. 9 are the same processes as the steps in Fig. 9, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0061] 10, the control unit 1001 of the surveillance camera 1000 checks whether an audio setting token corresponding to the distribution setting token of step S2002 is in the audio setting addition table 6000. If there is an audio setting token, the process proceeds to step S2004, and if there is no audio setting token, the process proceeds to step S2008.

[0062] In step S2008, the control unit 1001 of the surveillance camera 1000 adds the audio setting token set in the distribution setting token in the factory default state to the distribution setting token in the storage unit 1002, and ends the process. That is, in step S2008, if there is no audio setting information stored in the audio setting addition table 6000 serving as storage means, the audio setting information (audio setting token) specified in the factory default state is added to the video distribution setting information (profile 5000). For this purpose, a memory (not shown) is provided that stores the audio setting token set for each distribution setting token in the factory default state.

[0063] 10, the audio setting token set in the delivery setting token in the factory default state may be added only to a specific delivery setting token. That is, the specific delivery setting token may be, for example, only the delivery setting token present in the factory default state. That is, if there is no audio setting information stored in the audio setting addition table 6000, audio setting information (audio setting token) specified in the factory default state may be added only to the video delivery setting information (profile 5000) present in the factory default state.

[0064] Furthermore, the specific distribution setting token may be a distribution setting token to which no video setting information has been added, such as the video source setting token 5002 or the video encoding setting token 5003. In other words, if there is no audio setting information stored in the audio setting addition table 6000, audio setting information specified as the factory default may be added to the video distribution setting information only for video distribution setting information to which no video setting information has been added. After step S2008, the process proceeds to step S2005.

[0065] As described above, in the second embodiment, when the surveillance camera 1000 switches audio input from disabled to enabled, the audio settings for the distribution setting token are deleted and backed up. Also, when audio input is switched from disabled to enabled, the audio setting token backed up in the audio setting addition table 6000 is used, but if there is no backed up audio setting token, default settings are applied. Also, at that time, audio settings are added only for specific distribution settings, for example. This makes it possible to determine whether or not audio settings can be acquired based on the audio input setting contents, and can prevent, for example, the display of an incorrect audio distribution status on other client devices.

[0066] Example 3 Fig. 11 is a flowchart of the audio setting addition process of the surveillance camera 1000 according to the third embodiment. Note that the operation of each step in the flowchart of Fig. 11 is performed by the CPU in the control unit of the surveillance camera 1000 executing a computer program stored in the memory.

[0067] In the third embodiment, when an audio setting backed up in the audio setting addition table 6000 is added to a distribution setting token, a new preliminary distribution setting token is created to which no audio setting has been added. This allows the user to select which distribution setting token to use. Steps with the same numbers as in Figure 9 are the same processes as in Figure 9, so their explanations will be omitted.

[0068] In step S2004, the control unit 1001 of the monitoring camera 1000 adds the audio setting token stored in the table 6000 corresponding to the distribution setting token, and then the process proceeds to step S2009. In step S2009, the control unit 1001 of the surveillance camera 1000 creates and stores in the memory unit 1002 a new distribution setting token (video distribution setting information) to which no audio setting token (audio setting information) has been added, and then proceeds to step S2005.

[0069] As described above, in the third embodiment, when the surveillance camera 1000 switches the audio input, it deletes or adds audio settings to the distribution settings, and creates distribution settings before the audio settings were added. Furthermore, it determines whether or not to acquire the audio settings based on the audio input settings. This makes it possible to prevent the client device from displaying an incorrect audio distribution status. Furthermore, when audio settings are added to a distribution setting token, a new preliminary distribution setting token is created without the audio settings added, allowing the user to select which distribution setting token to use.

[0070] The present invention has been described in detail above based on its preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible based on the gist of the present invention, and these modifications are not excluded from the scope of the present invention. Moreover, Examples 1 to 3 may be combined as appropriate.

[0071] Note that a computer program that realizes part or all of the control in this embodiment and the functions of the above-described embodiment may be supplied to an imaging device or the like via a network or various storage media. Then, a computer (or a CPU, MPU, or the like) in the imaging device or the like may read and execute the program. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1000 surveillance cameras 1001 control section 2000 client devices 3000 Network

Claims

1. a distribution setting information storage means for adding audio setting information to video distribution setting information relating to video distribution and storing the information; a deletion means for deleting the audio setting information from the video distribution setting information stored by the distribution setting information storage means when audio input during distribution of the video is disabled; a storage means for storing the video distribution setting information and the audio setting information in association with each other when the audio setting information is deleted from the video distribution setting information by the deletion means; An imaging control device characterized by having an addition means that, when the audio input is enabled, adds the audio setting information stored in the storage means to the video distribution setting information to which the audio setting information is associated.

2. The imaging control device described in claim 1, characterized in that when the audio input is enabled and there is no audio setting information stored in the storage means, the adding means adds audio setting information specified to a factory default state to the video distribution setting information.

3. The imaging control device described in claim 1, characterized in that when the audio input is enabled and there is no audio setting information stored in the storage means, the adding means adds audio setting information specified in the factory default state only to the video distribution setting information that exists in the factory default state.

4. The imaging control device described in claim 1, characterized in that when the audio input is enabled and there is no audio setting information stored in the storage means, the adding means adds audio setting information specified to the factory default state to the video distribution setting information only for the video distribution setting information to which no video setting information has been added.

5. The imaging control device described in claim 1, characterized in that when the audio input is enabled, the adding means adds the audio setting information stored in the storage means to the video distribution setting information, and creates new video distribution setting information without adding the audio setting information.

6. 6. The imaging control device according to claim 1, wherein the video distribution setting information is a profile relating to video distribution in the ONVIF standard.

7. 7. The imaging control device according to claim 1, wherein the audio setting information includes an audio source setting token or an audio encoding setting token in the ONVIF standard.

8. An imaging control device as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the distribution setting information storage means adds an audio source setting token or an audio encoding setting token as the audio setting information to the video distribution setting information in the ONVIF standard and stores the added information.

9. a distribution setting information saving step of adding audio setting information to video distribution setting information related to video distribution and saving the information; a deletion step of deleting the audio setting information from the video distribution setting information saved by the distribution setting information saving step when audio input during video distribution is disabled; a storage step of storing the video distribution setting information and the audio setting information in association with each other when the audio setting information is deleted from the video distribution setting information by the deletion step; An imaging control method characterized by having an additional step of, when the audio input is enabled, adding the audio setting information stored in the storage step to the video distribution setting information with which the audio setting information is associated.

10. A computer program for controlling each means of the imaging control device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 by a computer.

Images